Hudson Valley gets $59.6 million in Regional Economic Development Council awards

The Mid-Hudson Valley council received $59.6 million of the $715.9 million awarded today in the third round of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative, down from $92.8 million last year. The region includes Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo created the councilsin 2011 to change the state’s approach to economic development and award funding regionally, based on recommendations from the communities, businesses, academic leaders and others located in the regions. The funding is going to 824 projects statewide this year.

Just one of the highlights of projects that were awarded funding in region is for the Lower Hudson Valley. White Plains is getting $1 million to fund a multimodal transportation center in the city. The redevelopment project will provide an improved transportation center that serves all modes of travel, transform the station area and provide an attractive and functional gateway that contributes to a vibrant downtown core, according to the governor’s news release.

Other Hudson Valley awards are $1.5 million for the Kingston Connectivity Project, which will create a rail-trail network; $1 million for a new biomass plant in Orange County; $1 million to create a national center for additive manufacturing (3-D printing) at the State University of New York at New Paltz; and $500,000 for improvements at Castagna Commerce Park in Dutchess County, a planned mixed-use development that will include office space, retail space and senior housing and assisted living facilities.

“The Regional Councils were empowered to change the face of economic development in their communities and they have accomplished just that,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This third round of awards continues the State’s commitment to these creative and groundbreaking plans and recognizes the immense progress that has already been made in revitalizing our economy and putting New Yorkers back to work.”

Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeffrey D. Klein, D-Bronx, said the regional councils “are one of the many important tools we’re using to build a strong economic future for our state. I am especially proud of the recipients who are making environmental sustainability and long-term job growth a touchstone of their success.”

Cara Matthews is a member of The Journal News' Tax Team. She has worked as an Albany correspondent and she covered Putnam County government and politics. Before that, she worked at newspapers in Connecticut and covered the state Legislature for one of them.